Method of forming an optical connector

Abstract

An optical connector (2) includes housing halves (4A) and (4B) having Y-shaped contours (6A, 6B, 8A, 8B) in the abutting faces of the housing halves (4A, 4B). A Y-shaped member (30) is inserted into the housing halves and sandwiched between the two housing halves. An optically transparent gel (20) is inserted into the housing adjacent to the end faces of the Y-piece, such that upon insertion of the optical fibers into the openings created by the Y-shaped contours, the unfinished fiber ends are in optical connection with the gel (20) and split into separate signals.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fiber optic Y-coupler for optically connecting at least three fibers, comprising: a housing member having an optically opaque characteristic, said housing having a Y-shaped bore therein for receiving said fibers;   a preformed one piece, non-viscous coupling member formed of an optically translucent material having three leg portions, an input leg portion and two output legs, disposed in said bore, each leg portion having an optical face for optical abutment of a fiber to be terminated with a viscous matching gel therebetween; and   a cover member enclosing said housing member.   
     
     
       2. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 1, wherein said housing has a corner intermediate said two output Y-legs, and said output Y-legs extend beyond said corner. 
     
     
       3. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the Y-coupler legs are substantially the same as the diameter of the fibers to be terminated. 
     
     
       4. A fiber optic Y-coupler for optically connecting at least three fibers, comprising: a housing member having an optically opaque characteristic, said housing having a Y-shaped bore therein for receiving said fibers;   a preformed one piece coupling member, formed of a solid optically translucent material having three leg portions, an input leg portion and two output legs, is disposed in said bore, each leg portion having an optical face for optical abutment of a fiber to be terminated; and   a gap is formed between at least one of said optical face portions of said coupling member and a fiber to be terminated, wherein said gap a deposit of a semi-solid, optically translucent matching gel is placed.   
     
     
       5. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 4, wherein said housing has a corner intermediate said two output Y-legs, and said output Y-legs extend beyond said corner. 
     
     
       6. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 4, wherein at least one other of said optical faces and fibers to be terminated forms a gap for the deposit of an optically translucent matching gel. 
     
     
       7. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 4, wherein the diameter of the Y-coupler legs are substantially the same as the diameter of the fibers to be terminated. 
     
     
       8. The fiber optic Y-coupler of claim 4, wherein the solid, optically translucent material comprises Polymethyl Methacrylate.